American Olympic medalist and 11-time world champion Claire Curzan led the University of Virginia women’s team to its seventh straight ACC Championship title last week in Atlanta, as the Cavaliers triumphed for the first time in their current streak without at least one of Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh or Gretchen Walsh competing.
In the absence of three UVA legends, Curzan took over, leading the Cavaliers with 92 out of a possible 96 individual points while also contributing to three winning relays and another that placed 2nd.
The headlining swim of the meet for Curzan came in the 200 back, where the 21-year-old dropped a time of 1:46.09 to defend her ACC title and shatter her own NCAA, American and U.S. Open Record of 1:46.82, set at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
Split Comparison
| Curzan, 2025 NCAAs | Curzan, 2026 ACCs |
| 24.89 | 24.77 |
| 51.49 (26.60) | 51.39 (26.62) |
| 1:19.03 (27.54) | 1:18.62 (27.23) |
| 1:46.82 (27.79) | 1:46.09 (27.47) |
She won the final in decisive fashion, topping NC State runner-up Erika Pelaez (1:48.92) by nearly three seconds.
RACE VIDEO
Courtesy: UVA Swimming
Curzan is now the fastest swimmer in history by more than a second, with current Michigan junior Bella Sims ranking #2 all-time at 1:47.11, a time she produced in last season’s NCAA final (while still at the University of Florida) where she placed 2nd to Curzan.
Curzan first took hold of the American Record at the 2024 Tennessee Invitational, clocking 1:46.87 to crack Regan Smith‘s mark of 1:47.16 set in 2019, and then Curzan re-lowered the record a five months later at the 2025 NCAAs in 1:46.82.
All-Time Performers, Women’s 200 Backstroke (SCY)
- Claire Curzan (Virginia), 1:46.09 – 2026
- Bella Sims (Florida), 1:47.11 – 2025
- Regan Smith (Riptide), 1:47.16 – 2019
- Beata Nelson (Wisconsin), 1:47.24 – 2018
- Kathleen Baker (Cal), 1:47.30 – 2018
Curzan’s record swim in the 200 back came one night after she became the second-fastest performer in the 100 back, winning the ACC title in a time of 48.38 after entering the meet having never broken 49 seconds.
On the first night of individual events, she placed 2nd in the 100 fly in a lifetime best of 48.47 behind Olympic champion Torri Huske (48.26) to move into #4 all-time.
Just over two hours after the 200 back, Curzan was back in the water in the 400 free relay, leading the Virginia women off in a 100 free personal best time of 46.00 before they ultimately broke the NCAA Record in a time of 3:05.30.
ABOUT FLUIDRA
At Fluidra, our mission is to create the perfect pool experience for all aquatic enthusiasts, from recreational swimmers to competitive athletes. We believe the perfect race starts with the perfect pool, which is why we provide superior, high-performance equipment and accessories. Whether for racing or relaxation, our leading brands — including S.R. Smith, Jandy, and Polaris and more — ensure an optimal aquatic environment, enhancing every swim experience.
SOCIAL
LINKEDIN: @Fluidra North America
FACEBOOK: @Fluidra North America
YOUTUBE: @FluidraNorthAmerica
INSTAGRAM @jandypool
FACEBOOK: @srsmithpools
INSTAGRAM: @srsmithpools
YOUTUBE: @srsmith
Fluidra is a SwimSwam Partner.
